Between Terror and Democracy

Teaching history at Nebraska University the author specialized on Algeria. Proven by this comprehensive book, his previous study of Uncivilized War: Intellectuals and Identity Politics during the Decolonization of Algeria (2nd ed. 2005), and his translation of Mouloud Feraoun’s disturbing Journal 1955-1962, he is outstandingly knowledgeable about Algeria’s recent past, turning this book into a must for Maghreb studies.

That says a lot given the strong focus on the country by American authors, including John Entelis, Martin Evans, George Joffé, John Kiser, Robert Malley, John Phillips, William Quandt, Hugh Roberts, and Michael Willis. Entelis rightly acclaims his colleague’s study as ‘the most historically comprehensive, analytically insightful and intellectually honest account of Algeria’s dramatic and tumultuous last two decades available’.

This tragic country, for long ‘the world’s most dangerous stage’ (p.193), keeps hooking those who - by putting their feet into it - become “pieds noirs”. I, too, lost my heart to Algeria when serving there as Vice Consul until independence (1962) and again as German ambassador from 1987-1990.

The author describes how post-colonial Algeria internationally assumed leadership as a champion of the Non-Aligned Movement before declining during years of corruption and stagnation, first as a Socialist one-party dictatorship - the FLN period - then run by a French speaking and atheist military junta.